Priests for Life Petitioners Comment on HHS Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 13, 2016

Contact: Leslie Palma
347-286-7277

WASHINGTON, DC — The petitioners in Priests for Life vs. HHS, one of the Supreme Court cases consolidated into Zubik vs. Burwell, commented today on the supplemental briefs submitted to the Supreme Court yesterday. Both the petitioners and the government were responding to questions posed in a March 29 order of the Court.

Janet Morana, Executive Director of Priests for Life, said: “From the beginning of this case, I have made it clear that I will not sign any forms that authorize our insurance company to cover these objectionable services in the health insurance we offer our employees. This case is not about the actions of third-parties. What the insurance company or the government will do without any authorization or involvement from us is one thing; what they try to force us to do is quite another.”

Dr. Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. and full-time director of Civil Rights for the Unborn (the African-American outreach of Priests for Life), said, “Women’s reproductive issues are very complex. Forcing us to provide contraception will never resolve a woman’s deepest issues. There once was a woman with an issue of blood and Christ became her healer. May the church rise up and serve our women or else the government will continue to destroy our greatest blessings.”

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, stated, “The Court has asked us the right question. They asked us to draw the line, as believers, between behavior that is acceptable and behavior that is unacceptable to our faith. We have done so. Now it remains for the Court to rule to protect our freedom to live that faith by being able to choose freely what kind of insurance coverage we offer to our employees.”

Priests for Life, the largest Catholic organization focused on ending abortion, was the first of the 37 petitioners in Zubik vs. Burwell to challenge the HHS mandate in court.

The petitioners’ brief is here. The government’s brief is here. The Court order requesting the briefs is here.